Team CFC: Folding@Home project

[MjM]

Whats the point of all theese threada?

 

[Sahkuhnder]

Whats the point of all theese threada?

To encourage people to use their computer's unused CPU time to do calculations for Stanford University to help them simulate protein folding in an effort to cure diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's and more.

All you have to do is download a small program that runs at very low priority on your system and does what is essentially very complex math problems.


EDIT - I just saw that you used to be on the team. Would you like to start back up again?

 

[Old Spice]

Stanford University has the results but I suspect that unless you are a Molecular Biologist or serious Scientist type that it wouldn't really mean much to you. The have a Science discussion forum available that talks about the program progress and results if you're interested.

So how do I go about getting those results from Stanford University? Do they post everything they collect or just their interptation?

 

[azzaman333]

If I remember to load the program after playing civ I'd still be doing work units consistently. But I'm forgetful and lazy, so I only have the program running every so often, and not for very long normally.

 

[puglover]

All right. I'm on board.

 

[Synobun]

I usually have this gadget open for over 30mins at a time, so it can progress a little bit each time i'm online.

My question still hasn't been answered though, how do I know if I finished a unit, will it tell me through a pop up?

 

[Synobun]

Okay, nevermind, I think I found it. Is it the Finished WU thing?

 

[Sahkuhnder]

So how do I go about getting those results from Stanford University? Do they post everything they collect or just their interptation?

This forum is led by Vijay Pande, the Stanford Professor in charge of the program. The results are shared with other researchers and are permanently added to the sum total of human scientific knowledge. Once a specific protein folding is solved, it is solved forever for both us and future generations to benefit from.


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If I remember to load the program after playing civ I'd still be doing work units consistently. But I'm forgetful and lazy, so I only have the program running every so often, and not for very long normally.

Every little bit helps. Maybe when you're on CFC and see this thread it will help to remind you to restart your folding client again...


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All right. I'm on board.

Welcome. Just post any questions you may have and someone here should be able to answer them for you.


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I usually have this gadget open for over 30mins at a time, so it can progress a little bit each time i'm online.

You should be able to leave it running all the time, with the exception of games that really tax all your system resources. The folding program runs at such low priority that you should never even know it's there. It also doesn't need internet access to process the WU, it only needs the internet when the WU is finished in order to send the results and download a new Work Unit.

My question still hasn't been answered though, how do I know if I finished a unit, will it tell me through a pop up?

I'm going to assume you are running the graphical client and have the little red protein icon in your tray by your clock. If you double-click on that a screen will pop up letting you know your current progress and status. Don't be worried by any "WU End" estimates as they aren't accurate until your current WU has run for awhile. If you have the console client or one of the specialized clients running instead just let me know.

 

[Chieftess]

There was a thread on this years ago. Also, the title's a bit elitist - I'll change it to something nicer.

 

[Sahkuhnder]

There was a thread on this years ago. Also, the title's a bit elitist - I'll change it to something nicer.

You're welcome to be a part too you know...

When a moderator's name is on the contributor list it adds validity to the effort and sets a good example to others. IIRC don't you work in the computer field? I bet you've got a nice system or two laying around that could be put to good use if you wanted.

 

[Blazer6]

There will be some issues that might occur when you start folding. Maybe you should add this to the OP.

1. Starting a work unit that is finished or interrupted will give a random date of finishing, which will fix itself over time and a accurate count will display.

2. Sometimes an error will turn the program off when it finishes a WU so you will have to open the application again and lose a minimal of folding time in the process.

3. Wait several hours for your work unit to be counted towards your total. Larger work units yield much greater points if you allow it under the Connection tab.

 

[bhsup]

If you have a dual core, make sure you're taking advantage of both of them! If on windows, just configure two instances of the console client. Macs and Linux boxes apparently have specifically designed clients to take advantage of dual cores.

All hail IglooDude, Lord Of The Folders!

 

[Old Spice]

So none of the research will be used for making WMDs? If thats the case I can't support this...

 

[Sahkuhnder]

So none of the research will be used for making WMDs? If thats the case I can't support this...

None of the research is for WMDs or anything even remotely similar. Stanford University is mapping the folding characteristics of proteins under various conditions in order to design medicine and targeted cures for nasty things like cancer and Alzheimer's. The best analogy I've heard is that they know the shape of the lock cylinder, they are now trying to locate the perfect shaped key. One way to do that is to try lots of keys. They are folding lots of proteins in different ways in an effort to find the perfect ones that they need to counteract the various diseases.

Other Universities, Hospitals, and research facilities all around the globe have F@H teams that donate their computer time to the effort too. Take a glance at the donor team list, it's actually quite impressive. Our little band here has managed to become one of the top few hundred contributors, not because we are a huge organization with a massive server farm, but because we have so many individual users that all contribute whatever small bit their system is capable of. That's why every user is so important in their own way.

 

[Old Spice]

So no WMDs..... I don't know I don't think the cure for cancer is worth my extra CPU time if none of it will go towards WMDs

 

[Synobun]

So no WMDs..... I don't know I don't think the cure for cancer is worth my extra CPU time if none of it will go towards WMDs

It cures other diseases as well Spice...

 

[Mulholland]

I finally got my computer up and running again and will be folding in the forseeable future.

 

[Synobun]

It says my WU will be finished in 404 days

Oh well, I've kept it open for about 3 hours since I got it (estimate)

 

[puglover]

It says my WU will be finished in 404 days

Mine said 1000.

 

[ironduck]

So how do I go about getting those results from Stanford University? Do they post everything they collect or just their interptation?

Currently the raw data is not available to the general public, but they have promised to do so. I don't understand their reasoning as to why it should be a problem, but here's the relevant thread: http://forum.folding-community.org/ftopic10565.html

Welcome all newcomers!